Tag Archives: ablaze publishing

Ablaze Acquires NBM

NBM

NBM has announced that it has been acquired by Ablaze in an asset sale. NBM co-founder Terry Nantier will package new titles for Ablaze. The acquisition includes the NBM brand and catalog. It “provides for the assumption of contracts with creators and licensors and the transfer of editorial operations to Ablaze.” NBM will continue as an imprint of Ablaze.

The acquisition of NBM allows Ablaze to expand its international market reach and boost its backlist as well as launch new creator-owned titles.

NBM will be distributed along with other Ablaze titles by Simon & Schuster, Lunar, Universal, and Diamond UK.

Terry Nantier co-founded NBM (Nantier, Beall, Minoustchine Publishing) in 1976 as the first American publisher to focus exclusively on graphic novels, introducing BD to the U.S. market.

Nantier will serve as editorial consultant and packager for Ablaze, with several new books in development for 2026.

Update: Diamond Starts its Court Battles with Individual Publishers to get Control of Consigned Inventory

As if the drama with Diamond‘s chapter 11 process isn’t crazy enough, now, there’s further issues in court when it comes to Diamond. Diamond has submitted a complaint against Ablaze to “determine the validity, priority or extent of a lien or other interest in property.” Ablaze is one of the publishers that are part of the Ad Hoc Committee that are fighting Diamond to determine who owns consigned inventory still in Diamond’s possession. Diamond wants to sell the inventory to raise money to pay back loans to JPMorgan Chase Bank while the publishers want the property back or be paid for it.

UDATE: As soon as we went to press with this, a similar motion against Action Lab was filed. Action Lab is not part of the Ad Hoc Committee. Since it went “AB” and now “AC,” we’re getting this in alpha order. We’ll keep a list of publishers below with each filing added as they’re released.

When it comes to Diamond’s plan to sell the consigned goods, a stay was put on that with another court date set for September 30. Diamond had a few options which was to see what happened on September 30, go with adversary proceedings against every consignor, aka publisher, or come to an agreement with the publishers.

It looks like Diamond will be going with adversary proceedings.

In Diamond’s motion they go through the history with Ablaze that they began a distribution agreement on April 1, 2023 where Ablaze supplied goods to Diamond on consignment. Ablaze then didn’t do the proper filing, UCC-1, which protects inventory if a distributor goes into chapter 11. Diamond began its chapter 11 proceedings in January. The lack of the UCC-1 Financing Statement is a regular argument that Diamond has made that they have the rights to the inventory. Diamond argues that due to bankruptcy code, and because Ablaze didn’t file the right paperwork, that Diamond has a superior interest to Ablaze when it comes to the inventory.

Diamond is asking the court to decide the inventory is theirs and they’re going publisher by publisher to do this.

In their filing they ask the court to declare that Diamond:

  • it has an interest in the Defendant Supplied Consigned Inventory superior to the interest of the Defendant,
  • the Debtor’s interest in the Defendant Supplied Consigned Inventory constitute property of the Debtor’s estate within the meaning of section 541(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, and
  • the Debtors can sell or otherwise dispose of the Defendant Supplied Consigned Inventory pursuant to Bankruptcy Code section 363(b), without regard to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, free and clear of any alleged interest in the Defendant Supplied Consigned Inventory held or asserted by the Defendant pursuant to Bankruptcy Code section 363(f).

All of this was Diamond’s original argument to be able to sell the consigned goods, now they’re just making it at the publisher level instead of a blanket one for all. The questions are:

  1. Is this serious and going to play out with the upcoming hearing regarding the publishers motion over consignment goods still coming?
  2. Is this an attempt at leverage to try to get the publishers to settle and cut a deal with Diamond?

We’ll keep updating this as to which publishers Diamond has filed against. Publishers include:

  • Ablaze
  • Action Lab Entertainment
  • Aftershock
  • Alien Books
  • American Mythology Productions
  • Aspen
  • Battle Quest Comics
  • Black Mask Studios
  • Boom Entertainment
  • Dark Horse Comics
  • Digital Manga
  • DSTLRY
  • Dynamic Forces
  • Fantagraphics
  • Goodman Games
  • Green Ronin Publishing
  • Heavy Metal Media
  • Herman & Geer Communications/Hermes Press
  • Humanoids
  • Living the Line
  • Magnetic Press
  • Massive Publishing
  • Netcomics
  • Oni Press
  • Paizo Inc.
  • Panini UK
  • Titan Comics
  • Udon Entertainment
  • Valiant Entertainment
  • Vault Comics
  • Zenescope

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The Prism #2 continues an interesting concept but it drags things out

Meet the members of The PRISM, the rock band assembled to save the world, each with their own histories, egos, and artistic visions. How will they merge? How will they clash? These are the questions Lorena must answer now that she heads the project, cut loose by her mentor and facing down studio heads and financial backers. Even before they embark on their tour of the solar system, there’s trouble to rein in.

Story: Matteo De Longis
Art: Matteo De Longis
Letterer: Officine Bolzoni

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Kindle


This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

New Ablaze coming in December

FAMILY TIME #1

MSRP: $3.99 • Available December 7

The O’Connell family (Lily – age 13; Tyler – age 11; and their parents) are vacationing in Ireland when they encounter an old man with a mysterious crystal that seemingly teleports them 1,000 years back in time. Unsure whether they have stumbled into a historical reenactment, the family must befriend Rory, a timid local, battle a medieval tyrant named Ciaran and his henchmen, and figure out how to get back to the present, while Lily learns to use her newfound superpowers.

ZEROCALCARE’S TENTACLES AT MY THROAT

MSRP: $19.99 • Available January 18th, 2023

Tentacles at My Throat is a coming-of-age story set in three different moments of Zerocalcare’s life: primary school, junior high, and his adult life. It is a complete story told in three parts; three moments that have in common that all-too-familiar feeling of having tentacles at one’s throat.

Three friends, their schoolgrounds, and a secret. And fifteen years later, the discovery that they all thought there was only one secret, but each had their own. And there was one more, bigger than the others, that none were aware of.

BELIT & VALERIA: SWORDS VS SORCERY

MSRP: $19.99 • Available January 18th, 2023

Robert E. Howard’s Hyboria UNLEASHED! See its true nature, its unrestrained violence and sexuality!

Rising from a watery grave, Bêlit once again finds herself commanding a ship, sailing the seas in search of adventure…and answers. But when a deal goes wrong, she finds herself teamed up with the woman she was holding prisoner: the equally beautiful and deadly Valeria.

These two iconic characters will find themselves traveling together on a mission to find out how Bêlit lives once again that will lead them straight into danger…from the gods themselves!

Collected edition includes the hit 5 issue series, complete cover gallery, plus as a bonus, contains creator Robert E. Howard prose featuring first appearance of Bêlit, Valeria, and the origin of the Hyborian Age!

TRAVELING TO MARS #2

MSRP: $3.99 • Available December 7

Roy says his final farewells to his family and braces for life aboard a spacecraft. But as he heads out on a one-way mission to Mars, he’s not alone. Befriended by his two robotic companions, do they know something about his fate that he does not?

FAR CRY: ESPERANZA’S TEARS #3

MSRP: $3.99 • Available December 14th

When Juan’s mission doesn’t quite go as planned, escaping the situation is one thing, but escaping his past is another. He will have to live through his memories of the Esperanza from his younger years with a little help from the Esperanza in Santa Costa to keep him alive and stay on target.

LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #4

MSRP: $3.99 • Available December 14th

An adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath unlike anything you’ve read before.

His fondness for cats may prove to be the only thing that can save Randolph Carter from the increasing number of nightmare creatures that are not only trying to prevent him from reaching Kadath but keep him permanently trapped in their hellish environs. And once his feline friends intervene, he finds himself yet again on his journey, not knowing which humans he can trust. As a bonus, also includes the original prose story!

THE BOOGYMAN #4

MSRP: $3.99 • Available December 21

Monsters don’t only exist in children’s imaginations…

After being pursued through the city streets, Elliott has some questions about who Father Death really is and how they came to be together. And while the answers may quench the boy’s curiosity, it doesn’t make him or his protector any safer from the increasing number of boogymen hot on their tails!

New Ablaze coming in November

ELLE(S) VOLUME 1: THE NEW GIRL TP

MSRP: $10.99 · Available November 2nd

Elle is just another teenage girl…most of the time. Bubbly and good-natured, she wastes no time making friends on her first day at her new school. But Elle has a secret: she hasn’t come alone. She’s brought with her a colorful mix of personalities, which come out when she least expects it… Who is Elle, really? And will her new friends stand by her when they find out the truth?

ELLE(S) VOLUME 1: THE NEW GIRL TP

TRAVELING TO MARS, Issue 1

MSRP: $3.99 · Available November 9th

A riveting story of planetary exploration and of finding meaning in your final days. TRAVELING TO MARS tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for the unlikely mission for one simple reason: he is terminally ill and has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of god. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both and what it means to be a dying god.

TRAVELING TO MARS, Issue 1

FAR CRY: ESPERANZA’S TEARS, Issue 2

MSRP: $3.99 · Available November 16th

Juan Cortez’s short time in Santa Costa has been more than eventful…and things are just getting started! Meeting all the major players in the country can be dangerous for Juan, but not nearly as dangerous as it is for his target. Will he be able to pull off the job before the rival factions vying for control get in his way?

A prequel to the events of Far Cry 6, this amphetamine-boosted comic introduces Juan Cortes, one of the central characters in the new installment of Ubisoft’s star video game.

FAR CRY: ESPERANZA’S TEARS, Issue 2

THE BREAKER OMNIBUS, Volume 5 TP

MSRP: $19.99 · Available November 16th

All the actors are gathered. All members are present to witness the clash. Chun-woo must face the leader of the Alliance himself, number 1 of the Murim! The final battle is near. Get ready for an explosion of rage and a flurry of violence. Let the last act begin…

Jeon Geuk-jin and Park Jin-Hwan’s fighting manhwa has been praised for its sensational action, as well as its captivating storyline, with many charismatic characters and stylish martial arts techniques that will keep you glued to the page! The Breaker Omnibus Vol 5 is the final installment in the bestselling, critically acclaimed series, collecting Korean vols 9-10 into one compilation. Don’t miss it!

THE BREAKER OMNIBUS, Volume 5 TP

THE MINECRAFT INSPIRED MISADVENTURES OF FRIGIEL & FLUFFY HC VOLUME 4

MSRP: $12.99 · Available November 16th

For Minecraft Fans! Each adventure transports fans into the world they love! The continuing adventures of Frigiel & Fluffy and their friends as they explore strange new lands, encounter bizarre creatures, do battle against evil and find treasure! All-ages Minecraft adventures! Volume 4 contains two complete self-contained stories, “The Red Powder” and “At the End of the World.”

THE RED POWDER – On their way to the Farlands, Frigiel and his friends run out of food, but discover a hidden town called Redstone City. In this beautiful place, everything is possible. But our heroes quickly become disillusioned when they find they cannot leave. Trapped, together they must find a way to escape from this technological nightmare…

AT THE END OF THE WORLD – Frigiel and his friends arrive at Lost Tru, the last village before the Farlands. But there stands an insurmountable wall that prevents them from continuing their journey. An intrepid young girl, Clara, offers to help them. They accept and head towards the unknown and beyond…in a universe where the usual rules no longer work. Will they then be able to return from the end of the world?

THE MINECRAFT INSPIRED MISADVENTURES OF FRIGIEL & FLUFFY HC VOLUME 4

LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH, Issue 3

MSRP: $3.99 · Available November 23rd

An adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dream-Qest of Unknown Kadath unlike anything you’ve read before. Randolph Carter’s journey is interrupted once again, this time by winged nightmares. Planted on an unsteady ground littered with bones, the dreamer must find his way to safety before the unimaginable horror beneath it all rises to the surface to end his quest once and for all. As a bonus, also includes the original prose story!

LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH, Issue 3

THE BOOGYMAN, Issue 3

MSRP: $3.99 · Available November 30th

Monsters don’t only exist in children’s imaginations…

Thinking they’ve caught their prey, the monsters pursuing Father Death and Elliott are surprised to find that maybe there are some Elders left in the world. But that won’t deter them from pursuing the boy and his protector…or destroy anyone who gets in their way. And any reprieve granted to the boogyman and his ward is temporary at best!

THE BOOGYMAN, Issue 3

Diamond Announces a New Deluxe Tier

Diamond Comic Distributors

Diamond Comic Distributors has announced that it has established a new tier among its publishing partners. The Deluxe Tier, which includes AfterShock Comics, Titan Comics, ABLAZE Publishing, and Frank Miller Presents (FMP), features preferred coverage in the PREVIEWS catalog and expanded support on the PREVIEWS world website, along with exclusive distribution agreements.

The Deluxe Tier spotlights robust vendor support in recognition of AfterShock, Titan, ABLAZE, and FMP’s success as top tier comic book and graphic novel publishers. Diamond will continue to be the vendor’s exclusive distributor to the comic book specialty market.

The Deluxe Tier vendors represent a diverse range of the storytelling in comics today. AfterShock Comics is a creatively driven comic book publisher led by a team of life-long comics professionals, dedicated to working with some of the brightest stars in the creative community to tell original, uniquely compelling stories – through comics, graphic novels and beyond. Titan Comics offers astounding comics and graphic novels from the world’s greatest film, television and gaming licensed properties. Alongside creator-owned comic books from new and world-renowned talent, Titan’s imprints include Titan Magazines (Marvel, Star Wars and Star Trek), Hard Case Crime, Titan Manga and the soon to be launched Titan Nova for Y/A and Middle Grade as well as the Conan the Barbarian publishing program in 2023.

ABLAZE is an independent publisher of original comic books, crowdfunded titles, and art books with a focus on increasing diversity, amplifying the voices of their creators, and bringing new creators into the fold. Frank Miller Presents focuses on creating and curating a line of comics to capture Miller’s distinct visual style while also working with a range of talent, from comics veterans to rising artists.

In September, Diamond’s PREVIEWS catalog and PREVIEWS world website will showcase AfterShock, Titan, ABLAZE, and FMP’s new status as the companies move to a new “Deluxe Comics” section, highlighting their offerings to comic shop retailers and customers. Additionally, Diamond is expanding their waiver of reorder fees beyond Image Comics and Dark Horse to include all Premier Publishers, adding BOOM Studios and Dynamite Entertainment, as well as these new Deluxe publishers.

Anime Expo Lite 2021 Announces TRESE VOD Panel

Trese

Anime Expo Lite 2021 explores the animated action-packed supernatural crime thriller, TRESE in a special creator panel available as part of the convention’s expanded VOD programming available starting July 5, 2021, at 12:00 PM (PST) and running thru July 16th, 2021.

A love letter to the traditions, heritage, and culture of the Philippines, TRESE follows detective Alexandra Trese as she confronts a criminal underworld composed of malevolent supernatural beings. The series is set in Manila where the mythical creatures of Philippine folklore live in hiding amongst humans.

Hosted by ABLAZE publishing, which publishes the TRESE graphic novel series, the panel will include Trese’s original graphic novel creators Budjette Tan (Writer) and KaJO Baldisimo (Artist), as well as Jay Oliva, the Executive Producer, Director & Showrunner of Netflix’s TRESE, and Rich Young, the co-founder of ABLAZE.

Tickets to access this year’s Anime Expo Lite programming are $5 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Hate Is A Virus commUNITY Action Fund. After the stream concludes on July 4th, ticketholders can re-watch the content, as well as access additional programming, on a VOD basis from July 5th-16th, 2021.

Anime Expo Lite 2021 marks the 30th Anniversary of the long-running annual convention. Anime Expo is the biggest North American fan celebration for Japanese pop culture including anime, TV & film, fashion, video games, manga, dance, live concerts, collectibles, and exclusive convention merchandise, presented as an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.

Registration information:

• Dates – July 3-4, 2021 / 12pm – 8pm (PST)
Ticket Registration
• Registration $5 (+ processing fees) – all proceeds to benefit the Hate Is a Virus commUNITY Action Fund

Trese